Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard drives around Lakers forward LeBron James during the first half of Thursday’s game in Toronto. Leonard scored 25 points in the Raptors’ 111-98 win. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks to make a pass as Toronto Raptors Eric Moreland (15) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam shoots as Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma defends during the first half of Thursday’s game in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) blocks a shot from Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) blocks a shot from Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Norman Powell (24) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Norman Powell (24) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks to the basket as Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol (33) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Jeremy Lin (17) is fouled on the way to the basket during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) celebrates with teammates, including Jeremy Lin, foreground, after making a 3-point shot at the buzzer during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball as Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, left, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) go after a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) go after a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) starts to fall to the court after being fouled by Toronto Raptors forward Malcolm Miller (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) starts to fall to the court as Toronto Raptors forward Malcolm Miller (13) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball as Toronto Raptors guard Patrick McCaw (1) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO — Back in August, it was a game you would have circled on the schedule: LeBron James in Toronto. Lakers taking on Kawhi Leonard. Might it be a powerhouse in the West taking on a beast in the East?

In the months since, the Raptors (49-20) have played their part, cruising as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. But so much has gone wrong for the Lakers (31-37).

Tuesday night’s 111-98 loss at Scotiabank Arena underscored the difference, as once-juicy subplots seemed diminished in the midst of a lost Lakers season.

Whereas it once might have piqued interest if James could continue his historic dominance in Toronto, that seemed beside the point. James played just 32 minutes and scored 29 points with the Lakers limiting his playing time. James was muted postgame as he talked about the “challenge” he’s faced mentally while sitting for longer stretches.

“I trust the people in charge,” he said while picking at his nails, “and that’s what it is.”

The Lakers have been considered a serious player to acquire Toronto star Kawhi Leonard in the past, going so far as discussing trade proposals with the San Antonio Spurs for him last summer. But the Raptors’ convincing case to keep him lies in their competitiveness: Leonard led with 25 points and eight rebounds, but Norman Powell (20 points), Pascal Siakim (16 points) and Marc Gasol (15 points) all stepped up around him on a night when the team was missing its top two point guards, Kyle Lowry and Fred Van Vleet.

For the Lakers, there was a vaccuum outside of James. Two-way contract point guard Alex Caruso was the next-highest scoring player in the game with 16 points, one of just three Lakers in double figures. As a team, the Lakers had 20 turnovers and shot just 7 for 31 from 3-point range.

The wide-open misses frustrated Walton the most on a night when some other things went well: The Lakers held the Raptors below 40 percent shooting from the field.

The Lakers were punished this time for subbing out James late in the first half, as the Raptors went on a 14-2 run to lead by 11 before the intermission, with Leonard drilling a buzzer-beating 3-pointer before heading to the locker room.

“I mean it’s challenging because most likely if we leave him out there and push through it, we’re right there still,” Walton said. “It worked out for us in Chicago, tonight it came back to bite us. But we have a gameplan and we’re gonna kind of stick to it.”

While James and Rajon Rondo combined for 14 assists, there could have been more if not for the Lakers’ shooting outage. Only Reggie Bullock (2 for 7) and Josh Hart (2 for 4) made multiple 3-pointers. The Raptors were 16 for 41 from the same range.

It again highlighted the Lakers’ lack of 3-point shooting, which has sunk them to 29th in the NBA (33.2 percent), and NBA analytics list the Lakers percentage on open 3-point attempts (35.3 percent) as last in the league. James’ and Rondo’s games are structured around playing with shooters, which Rondo said was “a concern” coming into the season. Now that they’re this deep in with 14 games to go, Rondo said the team is muddling through.

“I’m going to keep passing, it’s what I do and try to instill confidence in my guys,” he said. “Sometimes I’m the guy that’s shooting open threes, so I’m never going to get discouraged when my teammates miss shots.”

Along with the Lakers’ monitoring James’ minutes, there’s been speculation that he will not play in both games of the remaining back-to-backs. The Lakers play Friday night in Detroit and might rest James.

Bullock, who is hoping to win against the team that traded him in February, said James’ status won’t affect his approach to the game.

“If he’s with us, we’re going to give the same intensity,” Bullock said. “If he’s not with us it’s more opportunity for everybody else so everybody’s going to be ready to play with us or not.”

Meanwhile, James was asked if the Lakers’ message to the free agent class of this summer – of which Leonard is a part – has changed since the playoff push nosedived. James remained resolute that the Lakers will find a way to improve in the offseason.

“I don’t think it changes: I think everybody knew that coming into this year it was still going to be challenging even if we were all healthy and played all 82 games,” he said. “We continue to have injuries, your depth is not as you would like it to be, and it’s hard on a ball club. So we have an opportunity to get better this summer through free agency, and through the draft, and I believe our front office and our coaching staff are going to make that happen.”